An Ocala man was arrested Sunday afternoon after he allegedly threw a woman to the ground several times and struck her during a nasty domestic spat.
A Marion County sheriff’s deputy interviewed the victim at a neighbor’s house. She told the deputy that earlier in the day, she went shopping and when she returned, she and 53-year-old Kenneth Rodney Smith got into an argument over an RV that needed to be put in the back yard. She said Smith yelled at her, “I will do it when I am (expletive deleted) ready,” according to the sheriff’s office report.
The victim said she changed the subject and asked Smith if he wanted lunch, which led to another argument over lunch issues. The victim said she stood up to leave and Smith continued yelling and cussing at her. She said he then pushed her down into the pantry, causing a large lump on her right shoulder. The deputy observed the victim’s right shoulder, which was red and swollen, the report said.
The victim said she got up to move around the island in the kitchen to avoid Smith. She said she picked up a pair of scissors, which was on the island, to cut the tags off the clothes she had recently purchased. The victim said, “I think he thought I was going to use them on him.” She said Smith came towards her, grabbed her left arm and shoved her down to the ground, according to the report.
The deputy noticed a cut and bruising on the victim’s left forearm that would be indicators of being grabbed. The victim said while she was on the ground, Smith whacked her on the back of her head, the report said.
The victim said she got up to get away from Smith and they started arguing about who owned the residence. She said her phone started ringing and that is when she was able to walk out of the house, with Smith continuing to yell at her to get her “(expletive deleted)” and leave, according to the report.
The deputy went to the incident location and spoke with Smith, who said he and the victim got into an argument, she grabbed the scissors and when he went to get them from her, she fell on the ground. Smith said there was nothing physical, the report said.
Smith told the deputy, “I am sure she told you her side, so do what you got to do.” He turned around and put his hands behind his back to be handcuffed, according to the report.
Smith was charged with simple battery and taken to the Marion County Jail, where he remained held Monday afternoon on $500 bond. He’s scheduled to appear in Marion County Court on May 3.